Defending Church Teachings On Contraception

[sophia13]

Hi! I'm not sure if this question is too involved for this forum. If so, I apologize, and hope that the mods will move it to a more appropriate forum.

But anyway...I am a first-year medical student at a secular medical school, and am wondering if you can offer any resources that would help me to defend the Church's teaching on contraception. I've run into several situations in which classmates have challenged my views on contraception, specifically regarding the fact that I do not intend to prescribe oral contraception as a physician. Referencing official Church teachings doesn't seem to do much good in these conversations, since most of my classmates do not regard these teachings as authoritative.

I want to provide a truthful and loving witness to the Church's teachings on this matter, so any information or resources you could provide would be most appreciated. I would particularly appreciate moral arguments for why a Catholic physician cannot in good conscience prescribe oral contraception.

On a related note, perhaps you can also answer these questions:

1) Is it morally acceptable for a Catholic physician to discuss oral contraception and condom use with a patient, perhaps in the course of a medical interview, if the physician is clear about his or her inability to prescribe contraception?

2) Is it morally acceptable for a Catholic physician to refer a patient seeking oral contraception to another physician who will prescribe it?

Thank you very much for you help!

+Pax Christi,
Sophia

[Brother Adam]

Dear Sophia,

I cannot give you the full answer you are looking for, but given that this will be your profession I strongly recommend making connections with other Catholic physicians who can mentor you and equip you with a good defense since they are living the same profession and will have insight that Catholic apologists and catechists will not have who do not work in the medical field. There are Catholic medical institutes to be in touch with as well, such as the Paul VI Institute.

We have a Catholic doctor who does not prescribe contraceptives, kill children in the womb, or do any other immoral procedures. I do believe he will ask a new patient about any past contraceptive use or other immoral behavior to get a patient history and know best how to practice medicine for that patient.